Type 1 diabetes is often associated with other autoimmune processes and commonly with thyroid disease and may have thyroid antibodies and these individuals may develop thyroid dysfunction, sub-clinical or overt.
There is no clear association per se between Type 2 diabetes and thyroid disease, however, both are common and may often see in the same individual.
Thank you for your contributions, we had conducted a survey on the lavels of thyroid hormones in diabetics who suffered stroke and a low FT3 was found in quite a few of them. Low FT3 was found to have a poor outxome in Type 2 diabetic patients with stroke.
What was the TSH (Thyroid stimulating hormone) and Free T4 levels in these individuals?
The range, mean and S.D. of FT 3 and FT 4 were 0.32-15.7, 3.28±13.05 and 0.87-93.3, 16.3±15.5 respectively. The range of TSH was from 0.09-12.
The range and SD are large for both FT3 and FT4. At present the data includes a mixed population of hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism and others, if the units are SI as Normal TSH is between 0.35-5.0, unless the units are different. The other question, I have - Is this a retrospective analysis? One may need to review the full data to better understand. Are you trying to write this up?
Sir, this is the gross data that i have told you, and its a prospective study and forms a part of my desertation.
Dear Apurva,
Hypothyroidism is a well-recognized risk of type 1 diabetes, but new research shows there’s a strong association with type 2 diabetes as well.
It’s estimated that anywhere from 10 percent to 31 percent of type 2 diabetics may have thyroid dysfunction, with subclinical hypothyroidism the most common thyroid condition. The association was so significant that researchers recommended routine screening for hypothyroidism at the time of a type 2 diabetes diagnosis.
Subclinical hypothyroidism can exacerbate the coexisting dyslipidemia commonly found in type 2 diabetes and further increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Symptoms of hypothyroidism, especially at the subclinical level, are often minimal or, like fatigue, dry skin, constipation, muscle cramps and memory problems, may mimic those of many other conditions, making it incredibly easy to miss.
American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) 20th Annual Meeting and Clinical Congress April 15, 2011